Sunday 30 May 2010

Review - Trash Talk - Eyes & Nines

Trash Talk - Eyes & Nines

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8 out of 10

Following in the footsteps of Gallows and Fucked up, Trash Talk are the NME's newest pet hardcore band. For once, you should believe the hype because Trash Talk continually deliver. Although they tend to specialise in frantic, messy thrash (it's a similar sort of noise to Rolo Tomassi) this record marks a departure for Trash Talk. For the most part they still tear through (almost) every track at breakneck speed but this time round they brought hardcore's old friend 'song structure'. Eyes & nines is tough guy hardcore re-imagined in a way that's typically Trash Talk: Breakdown heavy, sing-alongs, even (gasp!) choruses are all fed through Trash Talk's violence machine: sloppy as fuck guitars, lightning-fast drumming and frenzied, barely intelligible vocals.

It's a good noise, but it's nothing new. For a band like Trash Talk who always tries to push their sound forward, it seems a bit like a step backwards to record an album that owes so much to early hardcore releases, but for some reason it just works. Yeah, it's nothing new, but it is insanely good to listen to. It goes without saying, but these songs were made to be played live and as fantastic as they are on record, listening to Eyes & Nines leaves you wishing you were there.

The one thing that this album shows is Trash Talk's versatility. Yeah, they can do thrash, they can do tough guy and with Hash Wednesday, they do stoner too. With this record, they prove that they're worthy of the Hype. It's sad that other hardcore bands like Outbreak and Blacklisted don't get the same sort of exposure, but Trash Talk really work hard with Eyes & Nines to prove that they're worthy of it.

Listen: www.myspace.com/trashtalkfu

Tracklist:
1. Vultures
2. Flesh And Blood
3. Explode
4. Hash Wednesday
5. More
6. Rabbit Holes
7. I Do
8. Trudge
9. On A Fix
10. Eyes & Nines

Review - Arden - The Big Picture

Arden - The Big Picture

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8 out of 10

Sometimes, a record comes along that makes you remember how much you loved emo, even if it is a bit of a guilty pleasure. The Big Picture is one of those records. If you’ve ever harboured a soft spot for Saves the Day or Jimmy Eat World, then you’re going to have to listen to Arden.

The Big Picture is an EP of big, bold pop songs, overflowing with melody and lush instrumentation, boy/girl vocals and nods to the same vintage pop records that influenced Panic at The Disco on Pretty. Odd. What really makes Arden really special is Laurie Huebschman’s vocals, mostly understated, but at times, soaring, especially on the closing track Meet Me at Glen Rock which punctuates The Big Picture perfectly. Like the rest of the record, it’s life-affirming and expansive, but just more so.

This really is an amazing pop record that does a lot to correct the negative image of emo. It shows that girls do have a place in a world of boys in checked shirts and fringes and that emo-pop really does have a place in your record collection. It's nothing to be ashamed of, I promise.

Listen: www.myspace.com/arden

Tracklist:
1. A Slow Spiral Geoffrey
2. Movin' On
3. Grow!
4. Weather Patterns
5. The Second Time Around
6. Crickets
7. The Big Picture
8. Meet Me at Glen Rock

Review - Ed Harcourt - Lustre

Ed Harcourt - Lustre

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5 out of 10

OK, best start with the warnings for this one; So I've Been Told sounds like Coldplay. Coldplay with an accordion. Attempted rock-outs like A Secret Society collapse like a child's first Lego house. Generally, Harcourt comes across like David Gray's 'sensitive' younger brother. Except on When The Lost Don't Want To Be Found, which may have been recorded after a heavy night on the sauce - although whether that was mint or tartar isn't known.

Everything is well-written, well-produced, well-sung and well-played. There's some lovely piano-bashing here (Lachrymosity, for instance) and Killed By The Morning Sun almost lives up to the cover art. If only the voice wasn't so annoyingly, winsomely fragile. But that may be his charm, to his admirers. I can certainly see Janice Long and her zombie hordes oozing all over this.

Listen: www.myspace.com/edharcourt

Tracklist:
1. Lustre
2. Haywired
3. Church Of No Religion
4. Heart Of A Wolf
5. Do As I Say Not As I Do
6. Killed By The Morning Sun
7. Lachrymosity
8. A Secret Society
9. When The Lost Don't Want To Be Found
10. So I've Been Told
11. Fears Of A Father

Friday 28 May 2010

News - Hopeless Records Signs The Wonder Years

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The Wonder Years have signed to Hopeless Records.

In regards to the signing The Wonder Years want everyone to know, "Hopeless was the right choice for us. We’ve never been concerned with sounding like the other bands on a label. I mean, when we signed with No Sleep there were two other bands on the label. One sounded like Botch and the other sounded like Modest Mouse. For us, it’s more important that a label gets us and what we want to do and after a ton of meetings with Hopeless, we know that it’s the right home for us. The roster is small and so we know we won’t get lost in the mix. The staff members are hard working and super nice. We respect all of the charity work the label does and are excited to be a part of a label that has such an interest in helping people. Hopeless has an amazing back catalouge full of some of my all-time favorite records and we’re really honored to have the chance to even be mentioned in the same breath as some of their bands."

The band adds "No Sleep is one of the best up and coming labels right now. In a few years, Chris is going to be on top of this game and we couldn’t be more excited for him and the bands he’s signing. We love that dude with all our hearts and are so proud of how far his label has come. For us, it was time to move on."

No Sleep Records president, Chris Hansen shows the band his support, "The Wonder Years and No Sleep have been together for basically almost both of our lifetimes, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder of how far they have come and with their move to Hopeless Records. Support these guys always, some of the best dudes and my best friends."

News - In Fear And Faith - New Song Online

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In Fear And Faith have posted a new song titled "Bones" on their MySpace page. The track will appear on the band’s new album called "IMPERIAL" which will be in stores and online on the 15th of June through Rise Records.

News - Introducing...Zola Jesus

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Zola Jesus’ first UK single "Night" will be released on the 21st of June through Souterrain Transmissions. The single is taken from the forthcoming album "Stridulum II" which is due out in August.

Live dates:

Aug 31 Brighton Freebutt
Sept 1 London Camp Basement
Sept 2 Manchester Deaf Institute
Sept 3 Leeds Nation Of Shopkeepers
Sept 4 Glasgow Indian summer
Sept 5 Edinburgh Wolf Party presents - Electric Cabaret
Sept 6 Glasgow ABC1 w/ Fever Ray
Sept 8 London Brixton Academy w/ Fever Ray

News - Sabbat Announce UK Tour

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Sabbat have announced details of their UK tour this August with support from Imperial Vengeance and Cinders Fall:

16th August - Bierkeller, BRISTOL
17th August - The Well, LEEDS
18th August - Ivory Blacks, GLASGOW
20th August - Rock City, NOTTINGHAM
21st August - Underworld, LONDON
22nd August - Central Station, WREXHAM

News - Little Fish Support Blondie

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Little Fish will be playing live with Blondie at the following dates:

09/06/10 Hatfield - Forum
10/06/10 Cambridge - Corn Exchange
15/06/10 Newcastle - Academy
16/06/10 Manchester - Apollo
17/06/10 Sheffield - O2 Academy
19/06/10 Bournemouth - O2 Academy
20/06/10 Tetbury - Westonbirt Arboretum
22/06/10 Dublin - Vicar Street
23/06/10 Belfast - Nugent Hall
24/06/10 Cork - Big Top
26/06/10 Kenwood House - Open Air
28/06/10 Wolverhampton - Civic Hall
29/06/10 Southend - Cliffs Pavilion
30/06/10 London - Indigo2

Wednesday 26 May 2010

News - Kelis: 4th Of July (Fireworks)

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Kelis will release her new single "4th Of July (Fireworks)" on the 4th of July through Interscope / will.i.am Music Group. It will come out as a digital bundle featuring a Calvin Harris remix of the single.

The track is taken from Kelis’ album "Flesh Tone" which is out now.

Live dates:

Glastonbury - Worthy Farm, Somerset - June 26
Big Chill - Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire - August 7
London - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire - October 1

News - Josh Scogin (The Chariot) Solo Project

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Josh Scogin (The Chariot) has unveiled his solo project called A Rose By Any Other Name. The debut album "One For My Master, One For My Dame" is out now.

News - The Ghost Inside Reveal Guest Vocalists

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The Ghost Inside will release their new album "The Returners" on the 8th of June through Mediaskare Records. The album features guest vocals from Brendan Foley of Betrayal, Tommy Green of Sleeping Giant and Mat Bruso (ex Bury Your Dead).

News - My Epic Post Second Song Online

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My Epic have posted a second song from their upcoming album "Yet". The song is titled "Lower Still" and can be heard here: www.myspace.com/myepic

The album will be released on the 6th of July through Facedown Records.

News - Tweak Bird Free MP3 Download

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Tweak Bird are releasing their new single "A Sun / Ahh Ahh" on the 7th of June through Souterrain Transmissions. They’ve decided to give away the track as a free download via this link: www.souterraintransmissions.com/media/mp3/2440/2440.mp3

News - Are Scouting For Girls Famous?

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Scouting For Girls release their new single "Famous" through Epic Records on the 11th of July.

Live dates:

8th July - Thetford Forest, Suffolk
9th July - Oxegen Festival, Ireland
10th July - T In The Park Festival, Scotland
14th August - Doncaster Racecourse
17th August - Villa Marina, Isle of Man
21st August - V Festival, Chelmsford
22nd August - V Festival, Stafford

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Review - Ventura - We Recruit

Ventura - We Recruit

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4 out of 10

Swiss Indie-Rock, anyone? It didn't immediately put an image in my head, I must say. Which is probably a good thing, as I should be able to judge this collection of solid, reliable, somewhat dull, punkoid stomp without any prejudice as to nationality. There are touches of Shellac and other usual noisy touchstones (Sonic Youth, Helmet, The Pixies etc, etc.) but nothing leapt out of the speakers and attempted bloody murder on my ears, or mind. In fact, sometimes (I Quite Like It Here, for example) the riffage gets a bit - dare I say it - Stoner. I think it's the low-key vocals that really beige things over, though. No wonder they teamed up with David Yow for a single, recently. That was rather good.

Listen: www.myspace.com/vntr

Tracklist:
1. Brace For Impact
2. With Ifs
3. Twenty-Four Thousand People
4. I Always Said He Was Weird
5. Will Kill For Love
6. I Quite Like It Here
7. All The Reasons Not To
8. Why Are You Not A Coin
9. Demons

News - Klaxons Tour Dates + New Track Streamed

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Klaxons will be streaming their new track "Flashover" from 8pm tonight at their official site: www.klaxons.net

Klaxons play live dates in June and July (details below). Tickets go on general sale 9am May 27th and are priced at £12.50 (£14.00 for London).

15th June - Paris Nouveau Casino
13th July - Glasgow king Tuts
14th July - Manchester Ruby Lounge
27th July - London Village Underground

News - The Keys Release Their Fire Inside

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The Keys will release their album "Fire Inside" through See Monkey Do Monkey Recordings on the 7th of June.

Live dates:

30 May - Las Festival Aberdare
3 Jun - Album Launch Party! W/ Gringo Star (USA) C.A.I. Cardiff
4 Jun - Rascals Bangor
18 Jun - Adam Walton's Pet Sounds - Telford’s Warehouse Chester
19 Jun - Aberystwyth Arts Centre Aberystwyth
20 Jun - Dirty Water Club w/The see See London
25 Jun - The Cooler Bristol
1 Jul - MOLES BATH
23 Jul - Gower Rocks Festival Swansea

News - Therapy? - Crooked Timber (Deluxe Gold Edition)

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Therapy? will release a limited edition digi-pack version of their 2009 album "Crooked Timber" through Global Music on the 19th of July.

The track listing of "Crooked Timber (Deluxe Gold Edition)" is as follows:

1. The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself
2. Enjoy The Struggle
3. Clowns Galore
4. Exiles (Sample Version)
5. Crooked Timber (Breathless FX Mix)
6. I Told You I Was Ill
7. Somnambulist
8. Blacken The Page
9. Magic Mountain (Sample Version)
10. Bad Excuse For Daylight (Sample Version

BONUS TRACKS
11. Exiles (Bong-Ra Gutteral Exodus Remix)
12. Magic Mountain (Snug Slut Remix)
13. Low Winter Sun
14. Don't Try

You can pre-order it via this link: www.globalmusic-shop.com/shop/catalog/details?shop_param=aid%3DDR2CDD+009%26

News - Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

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Universal Music Group and Banger Films has announced the feature length DVD and Blu-ray release of the critically acclaimed, award winning documentary "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage" out on the 28th of June.

The documentary features never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with some artists such as Billy Corgan, Taylor Hawkins, Trent Reznor, Sebastian Bach, Kirk Hammett, Jack Black and Gene Simmons.

The DVD also features a bonus disc that includes the following exclusive material:

1. Being Bullied and The Search for The First Gig
2. Reflections on the album Hemispheres
3. Presto and Roll The Bones Rap
4. The RUSH Fashion
5. Hobbies on the Road
6. RUSH Trekkies
7. Pre Gig Warm-Up
8. "Best I Can" - (never-before-seen footage w/ original drummer, John Rutsey from 1974)
9. "Working Man" - (never-before-seen footage w/ original drummer, John Rutsey from 1974)
10. "La Villa Strangiato" - Live at Pinkpop Festival in Holland from 1979 (first time this epic song was captured on video)
11. "Between The Sun and Moon" - Hartford, CT (from the band's first show back after hiatus in 2002)
12. Dinner with RUSH at a Hunting Lodge
13. "Far Cry" live - from the 'Snakes & Arrows' DVD
14. "Entre Nous" live - from the 'Snakes & Arrows' DVD
15. "Bravado" - rare live version -- previously only available on the 'R30' Blu-ray version
16. "YYZ" - rare live version -- previously only available on the 'R30' Blu-ray version

Runtime of the film and bonus disc includes over 3 hours of content.

News - Is This What You Want?

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The Wanted will release their debut single called "All Time Low" on the 25th of July through Geffen Records.

News - Chimaira Announce UK Tour

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Chimaira have announced their return to the UK. Guitarist Rob Arnold had the following to say:

"Well I hope that you UK fans are as excited to see us as we are you this coming October! Our last trip over with Trivium was absolutely fantastic, and we can’t wait to do it again while holding the reigns. This time around we’ll be playing a longer set with beefed up production, and we’ll treat each show as our last as we close out The Infection touring cycle. Its been a crazy ride over the last year, and we’re happy that our last stop will land with our loyal friends in the UK. Grab your tickets NOW, and don’t forget to let everyone know that Chimaira is coming back to TERRORIZE this October!! See you soon!"

Live dates:

9/30/10 BRISTOL / ACADEMY 2 UK
10/2/10 BELFAST / STIFF KITTEN IRELAND
10/3/10 DUBLIN / ACADEMY 2 IRELAND
10/5/10 COLCHESTER / ARTS CENTRE UK
10/6/10 NORWICH / WATERFRONT UK
10/7/10 PORTSMOUTH /WEDGEWOOD ROOMS UK
10/8/10 STOKE / SUGAR MILL UK
10/9/10 LEEDS /COCKPIT UK
10/10/10 MANCESTER / ACADEMY 3 UK
10/12/10 ABERDEEN / WAREHOUSE UK
10/13/10 GLASGOW / KING TUTS UK
10/14/10 LIVERPOOL / ACADEMY 2 UK
10/15/10 LONDON / BORDERLINE UK
10/16/10 LONDON / BORDERLINE UK
10/17/10 OXFORD / ACADEMY 2 UK

News - For All Those Sleeping Signs To Fearless Records

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For All Those Sleeping have signed to Fearless Records. Their debut album "Cross Your Fingers" will be out in the UK / Europe on the 19th of July.

Track Listing:

1. Outbreak Of Heartache
2. Never Leave Northfield
3. I’m Not Dead Yet
4. Janice, It Ain’t Funny
5. I’d Hate To See You Go
6. Run Away
7. The Midnight Society
8. He’s Dead Because Mommy Killed Him
9. Favorite Liar
10. If I Wanted Your Two Cents I’d Rob You

News - Slipknot bassist Paul Gray dead

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Reports are beginning to come in of the death of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray. They state he was found dead in an Iowa hotel on Monday. No official statement seems to have been issued by the band as yet. More news as we get it...

Monday 24 May 2010

Review - We The Kings - Smile Kid

We The Kings - Smile Kid

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5 out of 10

It’s hard to take a band seriously in the ’alternative’ music world when they work with someone from the mainstream, and credibility built up by the artist is at risk of being thrown away for a quick buck and a bit of fame. We The Kings have fallen into this trap by featuring the very antithesis of ’alternative’ music, Demi Lovato. ’Who’s she?’ I hear you ask, well she’s the girl from Disney’s ’Camp Rock’, the ’edgier’ version of High School Musical, or at least as ’edgy’ as Disney get I guess. She’s even dating one of The Jonas Brothers (I had to check in case she was married to a member of the band, which would make the collaboration understandable but not forgivable). This is clearly a statement of intent from the band, it says ’we want to be big’, so can ’Smile Kid’ elevate them from their current status of pop-rock contenders?

The short and simple answer would be no. The album overall is just too ’nice’, there’s no bite, nothing to make the band stand out from the crowd. There are decent tracks peppered around the album, but the highs are hills when mountains are required. The trio of ’She Takes Me High’, ’Heaven Can Wait’ and ’Check Yes Juliet’ are all single but not anthem material.

We The Kings admittedly do their best work when they’re writing radio friendly slices of pop-rock, ’Spin’ being a personal favourite, they can sound beautifully summery which makes their absence from the festival circuit a bit baffling. ’Summer Love’ would sound perfect whilst soaking up the rays with its carnival backdrop and soaring vocals. ’We’ll Be A Dream’ is the song on which Demi Lovato guests, it’s a sickly sweet ballad, that serves only to provide variation to the album and does not show We The Kings at their best, though I must grudgingly accept that the vocals provided by Ms Lovato are cracking.

I’m convinced that if We The Kings are to be thought of in the same breath as the likes of Paramore or even You Me At Six they will need a few more hits, the sort of song that everyone knows, even if they don’t know who sings it. High profile support slots and a cracking third album wouldn’t go amiss, because on this evidence their lofty ambitions will remain unfulfilled.

Listen: www.myspace.com/wethekings

Tracklist:
1. She Takes Me High
2. Promise The Stars
3. Heaven Can Wait
4. The Story Of Your Life
5. Rain Falls Down
6. Summer Love
7. In-N-Out (Animal Style)
8. Spin
9. Anna Maria (All We Need)
10. We’ll Be A Dream
11. What You Do To Me
12. Check Yes Juliet

Review - Forever The Sickest Kids - The Weekend - Friday

Forever The Sickest Kids - The Weekend - Friday

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7 out of 10

I’m very much a fan of interesting marketing ideas and so the planned Weekend Trilogy series of mini albums from Texan pop-punk act Forever The Sickest Kids (FTSK) instantly appealed. It didn’t hurt that I had been pleasantly surprised by their 2008 debut ’Underdog Alma Mater’, their boundless enthusiasm and use of quirky dance beats more than making up for the fact that the album didn’t have many real quality tracks.

The same is true here; arguably there are no superb tracks, but equally none, aside from the bonus track 'Hawkbot' that really disappoint. Opener ’Do Or Die’ is a personal highlight with it’s glow stick friendly chorus. The likes of ’She Likes (Bittersweet Love)’ and ’What Do You Want From Me’ follow the template of synthesised pop punk, ’Hip Hop Chick’ lends the album a bit of variety, with a hip hop delivery, funky, quirky beats and a chorus that is both simple, annoying and genius all at the same time. The aforementioned ’Hawkbot’ is only a bonus track and so little can be expected, but it really is poor, a rapping section that sounds like a bad MC Lars coupled with embarrassing robotic voice is not the best way to end a decent EP.

The album sounds like it has been released about 8 years too late to capitalise on the success of Sum 41 and ’American Pie’ party acts. The sound of modern pop-punk is generally more emo-tinged; blame the likes of Fall Out Boy and the ’maturity’ of the later Blink 182 and Green Day records. Personally I prefer my pop punk with a smile on its face, like New Found Glory and Bowling For Soup, who will be bringing FTSK with them on their tour later in the year. Saying this makes FTSK sound dated, but it’s the addition of dance and rap influences that keep them relevant.

I’ll be interested to hear how the Saturday album pans out, after what appears to have been a wild Friday, the band should be youthful enough to follow it up with another energetic performance, after that I’ll expect some kind of chill out album for Sunday! These releases are scheduled for later this year.

Listen: www.myspace.com/foreverthesickestkids

Tracklist:
1. Do Or Die
2. Tough Love
3. She Likes (Bittersweet Love)
4. Take It Slow
5. Hip Hop Chick
6. What Do You Want From Me
7. Hawkbot ft Chae Hawk (bonus)

Review - Seasons (Pre-din) - Stars and Lights - Together We Fall

Seasons (Pre-din) - Stars and Lights - Together We Fall

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4 out of 10

Someone said recently that the film Human Centipede could not be judged as other films could. This album is not far off; doom-laden atmospherics, white noise, industrial clanking as of being inside a slow-moving washing machine, distant strings, lo-fi piano and what sounds like sewage trying to escape the plumbing under Satan's second-best bathroom. The unaccountable air of claustrophobic menace and despair is focused around some choice samples - take the first track, where we hear some of the recording made at Jonestown. Others are hard to make out but are probably serial killers, or their victims. If you want to hear the sound of a deranged robot tuning into the depths of human depravity and despair, fill your boots. Just don't tell me about it.

Listen: www.myspace.com/seasonspredin

Tracklist:
Eight tracks, no titles

Review - Hannis Brown - Oh Ah Ee

Hannis Brown - Oh Ah Ee

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3 out of 10

Anyone whose PR uses the word 'spastic' twice in describing their music is not onto a winner. Such is the case with LA experimentalist, Hannis Brown. Hurried, yet turgid, this monotonous work hops between crushed Brian Wilson (Gliss, Don't Want To Go Anymore) and self-indulgent, hyperactive Samba (Nothing I Know Of), as if Santana and Wes Montgomery recorded themselves jamming on bad acid (nowhere near as good as that sounds). Eyes Closed threatens to be almost something, before it falls back to wandering up its own arse.

The tracks with onomatopoeic titles might as well be children destroying their school's music room or over-crunked Jazzmen. 'A snapshot of a drifting mind', indeed.

Listen: www.myspace.com/hannisbrown

Tracklist:
1. Oh Ah Ee
2. Happy (Momentarily)
3. Ehhh AhOooo
4. My Head Is Underwater
5. Ahhhhh
6. Gliss
7. Don't Want To Go Anymore
8. Shh [Ah] Shh [Ah] Shh
9. Never know Where I Am Going
10. Eh Uh Eh
11. Eyes Closed
12. Ahhhh [.] Ohhhh
13. Nothing I Know Of

News - Hot Hot Heat: Future Breeds

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Hot Hot Heat’s new album "Future Breeds" will be out on the 7th of June through Dine Alone Records. The first single "21 @12" is due on the 31st of May.

News - 3OH!3 New Album Details

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3OH!3’s new album "Streets Of Gold" will be released on the 19th of July through Photo Finish / Asylum Records. Their single "My First Kiss" (featuring Ke$ha) will be released on the 5th of July.

Live date:

JULY
Friday 9 T IN THE PARK FESTIVAL

News - B.o.B Presents The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

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B.o.B’s album "B.o.B Presents The Adventures Of Bobby Ray" is coming out on the 31st of May. It features collaborations with Hayley 'Paramore' Williams, Eminem, T.I., Lupe Fiasco, Rivers Cuomo & more.

News - Elvis Costello UK Summer Tour

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Elvis Costello will be playing some UK gigs with his current band The Sugarcanes.

Live dates:

June
Sun 20th LONDON, Royal Festival Hall (Solo show as part of Meltdown)
Mon 21st BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall (Solo show)
Wed 23rd OXFORD, New Theatre (Solo show)
Thurs 24th CARDIFF, St David's Hall (Solo show)
Mon 28th LIVERPOOL, Philharmonic Hall (with The Sugarcanes)

NEW DATES (With the Sugarcanes)

June
Wed 30th GATESHEAD, Sage

July
Thurs 1st DUBLIN, Vicar Street
Fri 2nd GLASGOW, Royal Concert Hall

News - Paramore Announce November UK Tour

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Paramore have announced a November UK tour:

November
Wed 10 Liverpool Echo Arena 0844 8000 400
Thu 11 Sheffield Arena 0114 265 5656
Sat 13 London O2 Arena 0844 856 0202
Tue 16 Birmingham LG Arena 0844 338 8000
Thu 18 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena 0844 493 6666
Sat 20 Aberdeen AECC 0844 4999 990

Tickets cost £22.50 at all venues, except London, which is £24.50. Tickets go on general sale on Friday May 28th at 9AM. You can buy them online at www.gigsandtours.com or at the 24 hour credit card hotline: 0871 2200 260

The Paramore Fan Club Presale starts Wednesday, May 26th at 9am GMT via www.paramorefanclub.com. There will be regular presale tickets and then a limited amount of exclusive ticket bundles.

News - Put Cruel Hand Under Lock & Key

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Cruel Hand’s new album "Lock & Key" will be released on the 27th of July through Bridge Nine Records.

Track Listing:

1. Lock & Key
2. Cruel Hand
3. Day or Darkness
4. Broken Glass
5. Labyrinth
6. One Cold Face
7. Rotations of Hurt
8. Dismissed
9. Two Fold
10. The Bottom

News - The Cheek - Just One Night

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The Cheek’s new single "Just One Night" is released today. The video is online here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImvLxzHOl08

Sunday 23 May 2010

News - ..The Culprit

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The Culprit will release their album "...The Culprit" on the 26th of July. The album will be released for free through Not On Your Radio Records this summer.

News - KINN Debut EP

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KINN will release their debut self-titled EP on the 28th of June.

Saturday 22 May 2010

News - Against Me! - White Crosses

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Against Me! have announced that their upcoming new album "White Crosses" will be released on the 7th of June through Sire Records.

Track Listing:

White Crosses
I Was a Teenage Anarchist
Because of the Shame
Suffocation
We’re Breaking Up
High Pressure Low
Ache with Me
Spanish Moss
Rapid Decompression
Bamboo Bones

Live dates:

May
29th Hatfield, Slam Dunk - Uni of Herts
30th Leeds Slam Dunk Festival
31st Glasgow, Slam Dunk Festival

June
1st London, The Relentless Garage
2nd Manchester, Academy 2
3rd Birmingham, O2 Academy 2

Thursday 20 May 2010

Review - Sweet Apple - Love & Desperation

Sweet Apple - Love & Desperation

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6 out of 10

J Mascis has joined / formed another Dinosaur Jr-soundalike band with Sweet Apple, so if you're a fan of the purple-lovin', guitar pedal pushin' axe squealer you'll be in hog's heaven. One John Petkovic wrote the songbase with a certain Tim Parnin, both Cobra Verde alumni before jamming once more with J and the band's namesake bass, Dave Sweetapple. Things are tight but loose and everything seems ideal for driving through rain, consistently catchy in that Green Mind kinda way. Flying Up A Mountain stands out, with its Black Keys / Beefheart riffage and lyrics such as 'I wasn't born, I was detached' and 'I was drunk when I was six, a Marxist at eight'.

If the rain has lessened and your journey's ended at a festival, you'll probably hear this there, too.

Listen: www.myspace.com/sweetapplesongs

Tracklist:
1. Do You Remember
2. I've Got A Feeling (That Won't Change)
3. Flying Up A Mountain
4. It's Over Now
5. Can't See You
6. Hold Me, I'm Dying
7. Blindfold
8. Somebody Else's Problem
9. Dead Moon
10. Crawling Over Bodies
11. Never Came
12. Goodnight

Review - Various - Nightpass - All We Give Is Air + My Polaris Artillery - As Shoulder Turns To Elbow

Various - Nightpass - All We Give Is Air + My Polaris Artillery - As Shoulder Turns To Elbow

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6 out of 10

For a Copenhagen band, Nightpass make a pretty good fist of sounding like they're from Seattle or Chicago, especially in the shouty department. Musically, things veer between REM and Wedding Present jangle-riff, with a vague ambience that makes things much more listenable than the usual 'landfill indie'.

My Polaris Artillery score points before a note has hit a speaker, coming as they do from the Danish town of Middelfart. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is. Points are lost, however, with their mild screamo jibber-jabber atop stop-start-stop-actually-let's-just-stop-eh guitar abuse. Plus, they sound like they take themselves far too seriously - odd, given the song titles. Maybe the lyrics are hidden gems of Danish comedy, who knows? If so, they're quite well hidden - from me, anyway.

So, we'll give Nightpass a pass and My Polaris Artillery, sadly, a pass off.

Listen: www.myspace.com/nightpass1 & www.myspace.com/mypolarisartillery

Tracklist:
Nightpass - "All We Give Is Air"

1. All We Give Is Air
2. Rake Out
3. Pussy & Wife

My Polaris Artillery - "As Shoulder Turns To Elbow"

1. Memoirs Of A Perfect Angel vs. Mariah Carey
2. As Shoulder Turns To Elbow
3. Three Speed For Sweet Revenge
4. Seagull, Spread Your Legs

News - Eels - New Album & World Tour

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Eels are set to release a new album entitled "Tomorrow Morning" on the 23rd of August through E Works Records. The group will embark on a world tour on the 3rd of August.

August 3 Santa Ana, California Galaxy Theater warm-up show
August 7 Tokyo, Japan Marine Stadium, Summersonic Festival
August 8 Osaka, Japan Maishima, Summersonic Festival
August 13 Brisbane, Australia The Tivoli
August 14 Sydney, Australia The Enmore Theater
August 15 Melbourne, Australia The Palace Theater
August 20 Hasselt, Belgium Pukkelpop Festival
August 21 Stafford, UK V Festival
August 22 Chelmsford, UK V Festival
August 24 Glasgow, Scotland Academy
August 26 Birmingham, UK Academy
August 28 Zurich, Switzerland Winterhur Festival
August 29 Paris, France Rock en Seine Festival
August 30 Amsterdam, Holland Paradiso
September 1 London, UK Brixton Academy
September 3 Dublin, Ireland Electric Picnic Festival
September 4 Manchester, UK Academy
September 5 Luxembourg Den Atelier
September 6 Groningen, Holland Oosterpoort
September 7 Hamburg, Germany Grosse Freiheit
September 8 Copenhagen, Denmark Vega
September 10 Berlin, Germany Astra
September 11 Munich, Germany Theaterfabrik
September 12 Vienna, Austria Arena
September 13 Graz, Austria Orpheum
September 14 Hohenems, Austria Eventcenter
September 15 Milan, Italy Alcatraz
September 17 Barcelona, Spain Bikini
September 19 Lisbon, Portugal Coliseum
September 22 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
September 23 Richmond, VA The National Theater
September 24 Boston, MA The Royal
September 25 New York, NY Terminal 5
September 26 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
September 28 Montreal, Canada Le National
September 29 Toronto, Canada The Mod
September 30 Detroit, MI The Crofoot
October 1 Chicago, IL The Metro
October 2 Milwaukee, WI The Pabst Theater
October 3 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
October 5 Denver, CO The Ogden Theater
October 6 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
October 8 Portland, OR Roseland
October 9 Seattle, WA TBA
October 11 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
October 12 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theater

News - Ellie Goulding Announces UK Tour

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Ellie Goulding will take to the road in October/November for a 21-date headline tour of the UK.

28 Oct Newcastle O2 Academy 0844 477 2000 / www.livenation.co.uk/artist/ellie-goulding-tickets
29 Oct Glasgow O2 Academy 08444 999 990 / www.gigsinscotland.com
30 Oct Edinburgh Picture House 08444 999 990 / www.gigsinscotland.com
1 Nov Middlesbrough Empire 01642 253 053 / www.gigsandtours.com/?a=ellie+goulding&site=elliegoulding
2 Nov Leeds O2 Academy 0113 2454650 / www.lunatickets.co.uk
3 Nov Manchester Academy 0161 832 1111 / www.gigsandtours.com/?a=ellie+goulding&site=elliegoulding
5 Nov Preston 53 Degrees 01772 893 000 / www.gigsandtours.com/?a=ellie+goulding&site=elliegoulding
6 Nov Sheffield O2 Academy 0844 477 2000 / www.gigsandtours.com/?a=ellie+goulding&site=elliegoulding
8 Nov Lincoln Engine Shed 0844 888 8766 / www.gigsandtours.com/?a=ellie+goulding&site=elliegoulding
9 Nov Nottingham Rock City 08713 100 000 / www.alt-tickets.co.uk/alttickets/home_ellie_goulding.html
10 Nov Liverpool University 0151 256 5555 / www.gigsandtours.com/?a=ellie+goulding&site=elliegoulding
12 Nov Cardiff University 08450 50 82 58 / www.crowdsurge.com
13 Nov Bristol O2 Academy 0871 2200 260 / 0207 734 8932 /www.seetickets.com
15 Nov Birmingham O2 Academy 0844 477 2000 / www.livenation.co.uk/artist/ellie-goulding-tickets
16 Nov Southampton Guildhall 023 8063 2601 / www.seetickets.com
17 Nov Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall 0871 2200 260 / 0207 734 8932 / www.seetickets.com
19 Nov London HMV Hammersmith Apollo 0871 2200 260 / 0207 734 8932 / www.seetickets.com
22 Nov Brighton Dome 01273 709 709 / www.seetickets.com
23 Nov Cambridge Corn Exchange 08450 50 82 58 / www.crowdsurge.com
24 Nov Norwich UEA 01603 508 050 / www.livenation.co.uk/artist/ellie-goulding-tickets
26 Nov Reading Hexagon 08450 50 82 58 / www.crowdsurge.com

Tickets go on general sale on Friday 21st May at 9:00am.

News - Dananananakroyd vs The Sissy Hits

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Dananananakroyd are set to play three low-key shows as "The Sissy Hits" next week.

Singer Calum Gunn said of the shows, "we wanted to play our new songs to people and get a great feel for them before recording them in a studio atmosphere."

"We had the benefit of a couple of years feeling our way through the songs on the first album, so we thought playing a few shows under a different name would be a great way to play a set of new ones, rather than a ’proper’ Dananananaykroyd set."

"The Sissy Hits" live dates:

MAY
28 LONDON The Lexington
29 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
30 MANCHESTER The Corner

Dananananaykroyd live dates:

MAY
31 NEWCASTLE Evolution Festival

JUNE
13 SCOTLAND Rock Ness Festival

AUGUST
1 KENDAL Kendal Calling Festival
8 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Hevy Festival

News - Sacred Mother Tongue To Support Michael Schenker

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Sacred Mother Tongue have been chosen as main support at the Michael Schenker 30th Anniversary show which takes place at Shepherds Bush Empire on the 2nd of June. Schenker will be appearing with an all-star line up including members of Whitesnake, Rainbow and The Scorpions.

Tickets are available now: www.o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk/event/9157/msg-30th-anniversary-tour-tickets/Details

News - The Gaslight Anthem Unveil New Song Online

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The Gaslight Anthem have posted a second track from forthcoming album "American Slang" online at www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem. Titled "Boxer", the song is a sneak preview of what else can be expected from the full length which is set to be released in the UK on the 14th of June.

News - I Am Forever: The Tragic Tale Of Jonny Pumpkinhead

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I Am Forever will release their mini-album "The Tragic Tale Of Jonny Pumpkinhead" on the 12th of July. For this release the group worked with producer Jason Wilcock (Fightstar, We Are The Ocean, Senser).

Live dates coming up with Mimi Soya:

10 Jun - Unit - Southampton
11 Jun - The Cavern - Exeter
13 Jun - LePub - Newport
14 Jun - Ibar - Bournemouth
15 Jun - The Man on the Moon - Cambridge

News - Static Age Records Signs...!?

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She Has a Fashion Vice have signed to Static Age Records. Their debut full length "Stop Stalking, Start Sweating" will be released online and in stores everywhere on the 31st of August.

The majority of their new album was produced by Cory Spotts at BLUElight Audio (Greeley Estates, The Word Alive, Bless the Fall) with additional remastering done by Drew Fulk at Think Sound Studios (To Speak of Wolves, Advent, Akissforjersey).

News - Get In The Moment With Alamance...

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Alamance will release their new album "In The Moment" on the 15th of June through Smack In The Face Records, with the music video for the first single "Your Eyes" being released on the 10th of June. The record was produced by Rob Freeman (Hit The Lights, Armor For Sleep, Cobra Starship).

News - Destruction Of A Rose Give You Hell

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Destruction Of A Rose recently signed with BlkHeart Group and their new album "American Hell" will be released in Hot Topic stores and online on the 10th of August.

"With our last album Suspended in Time, we were trying to develop our sound. We spent a lot of time working out some kinks and trying to find our style." Singer EJ Salazar commented. "With American Hell we found a good sound that is more of a grown up DOAR and something that we can grow with and put our stamp on. We are hoping that this album will help us be a long lasting force in metal."

"Every person, not just Americans have these problems, and go through them everyday." Salazar adds about the title and theme of the album. "Every person, has their own personal ’hell’, and these are songs about some of mine, and I’ve put the songs together so that anybody else who has these problems can relate and find a release in our music, it’s heavy, it’s pissed, it’s American Hell."

News - Dead Confederate Free Download

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You can grab a free download of Dead Confederate playing their track "Get Out" live by clicking right here: http://soundcloud.com/kartel/dead-confederate-get-out

The group will release their new single "Start Me Laughing" on the 31st of May through Kartel and play the following live dates:

29 May Bristol, Dot To Dot 2010
30 May Nottingham, Dot To Dot 2010
31 May Manchester, Dot To Dot 2010
1 June London, Barfly Camden

News - A Silent Film Announce Two Special UK Shows

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A Silent film return to the UK to play two very special, intimate gigs this summer.

1st June - Borderline, London (support from Jonquils & The Pressure Room)
3rd June - Cellar Bar, Oxford (support from Fixers & The Scholars)

Ticket information and booking: www.kililive.com, 0871 230 5595, www.wegottickets.com and usual outlets.

News - Help Save Graffiti6

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Graffiti6 will release their new single "Annie You Save Me" on the 5th of July.

Explains Tommy D, "To me, Graffiti6 is party music. We make songs for people to play when they're dolling themselves up for a night out, to get down on dancefloors to and to rave around their front room to when they roll back drunk. It's music we genuinely believe will make people feel good about themselves. That has to start from us having fun. When we're not, we'll stop."

Live dates:

26 May Vibe Bar, London
16 June Golddust
24 June Vibe Bar, London
12 July Kasbah, Coventry
13 July Monarch, London
14 July Burndenell, Leeds
15 July Roadhouse, Manchester
16 July Flapper, Birmingham

News - Funeral For A Friend To Play Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation

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Funeral For A Friend will be playing 2 shows in July as a celebration of outgoing guitarist Darran Smith’s time with the band.

The group intend to play breakthrough album "Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation" in it’s entirety - plus a few extra little surprises to keep the audiences on their toes.

As drummer Ryan Richards explains - "As sad as we are to see Darran leave, these shows will be guaranteed to give him a great sendoff. We played ’Casually Dressed..’ in it’s entirety when we toured it back in 2003/4 and never really planned to do that again, but obviously with it being Darran’s last shows it seems like a perfect opportunity to play the record for the final time. Don’t miss it!"

And Darran himself chipped in with "I’m really excited about these shows, it’s gonna be great playing the whole of ’Casually Dressed...’ plus they’re gonna be some of my last shows with Funeral & I’ll be goin’ out with a bang!"

Darren is leaving the band after this years’s Sonisphere Festival to concentrate on family life, while FFAF are reshuffling the ranks in time for the release of album #5. Current bassist Gavin Burroughs is moving to guitar, whilst Ex-Hondo Maclean/The Future bassist Richard Boucher has joined on four string.

Dates:

Thu 22 Jul: Cardiff, University
Fri 23 Jul: London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Young Guns will be supporting at both of these shows but all other details of the evening are being kept under wraps for now.

Tickets will be available exclusively from www.crowdsurge.com/funeralforafriend at 9am on Wednesday 19th May, 48 hours before they go on general sale.

News - It Was Scarlet Grey In The Dining Room With The Candlestick

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Scarlet Grey will be releasing their new EP titled "Fancy Blood" on the 1st of June. The record features guest vocals from AFI’s Davey Havok, as well as production work by Jade Puget of AFI.

News - Who’s Pushing The Parlotones?

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The Parlotones will release their new single "Push Me To The Floor" on the 28th of June and the track is taken from their album "Stardust Galaxies" which will come out on the 7th of June.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

News - Early Graves Are Goners...

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Early Graves will release their new album "Goner" on the 22nd of June through Ironclad/Metal Blade Records. The album was produced by Steve Austin (Today Is The Day) and features an appearance by Eugene Robinson of Oxbow.

Review - Hole - Birmingham O2 Academy - 9th May 2010

Hole - Birmingham O2 Academy - 9th May 2010

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7 out of 10

Due to being stuck in the queue outside the Academy waiting to get in, I unfortunately missed Tiffany Page's set. I was looking forward to seeing her play her guitar based grungey-pop. Oh well. Maybe next time.
Oxford based Little Fish were 2nd on the stage. I could tell before having heard a note they would be a 'love or hate' band by their drum, keyboard, guitar/vocal setup. What followed was a very cool mix of PJ Harvey, The Pretenders and Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's. Front woman Julia Sophie rocked the expansive main stage like a seasoned star and I got the feeling she won over quite a few of the crowd who were obviously quite apathetic to any band thrown their way that didn't include Courtney Love. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Little Fish on record.
So, on to the band (er.person) everyone had come to see. I myself was a big Hole fan 'back in the day'. Their album 'Live Through This' was a soundtrack to my youth along with all the other Seattle based music so I was quite intrigued to see what they would be like live having never seen them play. Ok, so the band is not the same line-up at all these days, the songs are now co-written by Billy Corgan as opposed to Kurt Cobain and Coutney Love looks like she's had a shit load of cosmetic surgery but I was still optimistic and they didn't disappoint for the majority of the set.
New songs 'Skinny Little Bitch' and 'Loser Dust' are real rockers without the over polished sheen of the studio. Classics 'Violet', 'Miss World' and the plugged version of 'Doll Parts' were highlights for me as a fan of old. The crowd got the full range of Hole's career tonight and Courtney Love still has that monster of a voice. They really don't make rock stars like this anymore. Yes, she plays guitar when she feels like it and sloppily (ably backed up by her band mates) she forgot a few lines and she had the trademark cajoling of the crowd but that's what everyone expects, that's what everyone wants to see and that's why I think everyone here tonight had a great time and the atmosphere was so good. A real trip down memory lane.

Tracklist:

Monday 17 May 2010

News - Ronnie James Dio Has Passed Away

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Ronnie James Dio has passed away.

Message from Wendy Dio:

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.

- Wendy Dio"

Review - The Get Up Kids - Simple Science

The Get Up Kids - Simple Science

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9 out of 10

I love The Get Up Kids. I don't know many people that don't. They have had the good grace to apologise for Fall Out Boy, they haven't sold all their songs to vapid shows like The Hills, they put on two the best live shows I've ever seen (10 years apart & they were still incredible) and appeal to such a broad range of picky music snobs.

Whilst this EP has a softer more wistful air than some of the poppier, punkier & altogether better known tracks, it has a distinctly electro feeling to some of the keyboard parts. This may be a departure from the Classic TGUK fair, but it's still pure well written, well crafted pop perfection all the way through.

It sounds like great memories the second it kicks in, which is what I was hoping & expecting. There aren't many musicians that can have that effect & maintain such a solid standard for so many years but TGUK consistently do & have in this case.

Second track Keith Case is more keyboard led than some of their previous efforts, mixing crunching distorted sounds with clean, but airy guitar parts & a solid upbeat drumbeat. It's a new sound, definitely, but shot through like a really tasty stick of rock, with the sound & skill that you'd expect.

As is slow building forth track How You're Bound. Like the rest of the EP there is a subtle echo & a dreamy sense. It retains simplicity whilst using fascinating layers of sound to define the changes of mood.

I'm bowled over by the experimentation in sound & production that does nothing to hamper the song writing. I almost want to say it has hints of Minus The Bear (specifically the remix album Planets Of Ice) but that would be detrimental to the individuality of these songs. Despite sticking their necks out with a wide variety of electronic instrumentation there is a maturity present that, quite frankly, makes me yearn for a full length.

If you are a fan you will be surprised but not disappointed, if you are not yet, just buy it. You officially have no taste in music if you don't find this the most endearing EP, by an enduring band to be released this year.

Listen: www.myspace.com/thegetupkids

Tracklist:
1. Your Pretty Things
2. Keith Case
3. Tommy Gentle
4. How You’re Bound

Review - Hole - Nobody’s Daughter

Hole - Nobody’s Daughter

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1 out of 10

It's worth noting that there are no original members of Hole left (don't say Courtney, have you seen her face recently? There ain't nothing original left). So this is essentially a solo album, co-written by Billy Corgan.

In fact over half the tracks are co written by Billy Corgan; although I'm pretty sure he won't be too happy about this as he has previously stated that, if they were used for the album, "It would be a real big problem, because I haven’t given my permission." & adding "I have no interest in supporting her in any way, shape of form. You can’t throw enough things down the abyss with a person like that."

Big fan then, but then how seriously can you take a man whose dated Jessica Simpson? It should still come as no surprise that the better tracks on the album sound like songs Zwan turned down for being too simplistic & childish.

Saying the better tracks sound like Zwan should give you some idea of how terrible this record really is. It made me laugh out loud at more than one point. Dr. Zuess for angry teenage girls, except the rhyming couplets have no where near the whimsy or intelligence of Green Eggs & Ham. There's plenty of Cheese though.

I cannot think of that many things I would like to do less than hear a grown up woman, with a child, sing, or rather growl monotonally, about one night stands, or complain about her daddy issues. From what I can gather Ms. Love is mostly singing about herself in third person, which just seems weird & arrogant.

Either that or she really hates women, Tyra Banks would not approve, she thinks women should be nicer to one another, maybe she should be Courtney Love's new weirdly inappropriate 'celeb' friend?

The production is so dire it scares me that a record label would let it be mastered. There is that 90's big fuzz/power chords moments which are actually pretty fine. It's also the overlaid electric acoustic guitar, no seriously. There are few things that sound worse on record. It sounds tinny & forced. Then there's the phaser effects & overdubbing. Oh God it's painful to listen to.

Just read the track listing to understand that this is embarrassing to all women in rock. It's like the livejournal of a 14 year old, in the 90's. Its misandrist to the point it's misogynist (so man hating it makes me embarrassed to be a woman).

The album artwork is no better, Why is there a picture of a classically painted lady wearing Ugly Betty's necklace on the back? The front cover artwork is actually Marie Antoinette à la Rose by Élisabeth Vigée-Le Brun and the bust of Anne Boleyn by an unknown artist (who is a huge fan of dramedies about Latin American do gooders in the harsh world of fashion apparently). Why have I seen them before? Oh right they were previously used on the inside the cover of the Hole compilation My Body The Hand Grenade (which didn't suck that much). Way to be original lady.

Then there are the photos inside: Why is there a picture of her in a bath sicking up blood. Why are her fingernails all blood crusted & like homeless crack addicts? (actually there may be a simple answer to that one). It actually makes you thankful for the recycled stuff.

This record is actually like the woman herself, an absolute plane crash & so humourless it probably hates Steve Coogan as much as she does.

In summary: The theme from M*A*S*H was wrong, suicide is not painless, it's left us with a crazy turtle lady making just awful records. Not cool.

Listen: www.myspace.com/hole

Tracklist:
1. Nobody’s Daughter
2. Skinny Little Bitch
3. Honey
4. Pacific Coast Highway
5. Samantha
6. Someone Else’s Bed
7. For Once In Your Life
8. Letter To God
9. Loser Dust
10. How Dirty Girls Get Clean
11. Never Go Hungry (bonus track)

Review - Four Year Strong - Wasting Time (Endless Summer) (Single)

Four Year Strong - Wasting Time (Endless Summer) (Single)

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9 out of 10

Four Year Strong were described to me as "New Found Glory with blast-beats" I thought that sounded like the most terrible thing on earth. I was so, so, so, so, so wrong. I spent a very long drive listening to their first album over & over (on the way to ATP, so excitable party car). By the end of the journey we were all singing along, even punching the air, so killer was the effect of their songs.

They have, in my mind, something quite magical, in that they are, guilt free pop punk.

This slice of happy cake that is their new single Wasting Time (Endless Summer) is everything the title says it is, rousing harmonies, simple sing along melodies, all played by big hairy tattooed men (as apposed to fey little hair farmers who think The Misfits are a clothing label). There's a humour & an edge to everything they do that makes you feel not only are you in on the joke, but it's a damn funny one at that.

I cannot wait to have a bit of my summer to waste, this track will be on repeat & I'll be Teaming Up! Teaming Up!

Listen: www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong

Tracklist:
1. Wasting Time (Endless Summer)

Review - Ganglians - Monster Head Room

Ganglians - Monster Head Room

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8 out of 10

Does the phrase Psych-Folk fill you with as much dread as me? There are so many terrible excuses for music parading under this title, singing in some terribly nasal voice through 500 phaser with swooshy distortion trying to make up for a lack of knowing how to create or produce interesting of ethereal sounds.

Thank goodness for the Ganglians. They may save summer yet. The album is such that you could easily imagine them not as men, but as a strange race of creatures sent to this planet to spread rainbow coloured party vibes to every park hangout, barbeque, beach day, outdoor evening drinking, everything fun about the summer.

The combination of sounds should be insanity, but there is method in the madness, method & possibly also fairy dust. Layer upon layer of messy sounds that might not make sense, but beg you to understand them. It's like a journey to a new world where the colours are brighter & the people happier.

I could sit here & write out detailed descriptions of each track, but where's the fun in that? It would be like looking at the slides of someone else's holiday, exponentially more boring than actually going there.

Just know that acid pop that feels uplifting & not druggy, vocals that soar & chatter & harmonise like the ghost of Jan & Dean surfing on waves of sonic improbability is as refreshing as it is fun.

This is Psych-Folk, Jim, but not as we know it. I just want to boldly go wherever these guys want to take me.

Listen: www.myspace.com/ganglian

Tracklist:
1. Something Should Be Said
2. Voodoo
3. Lost Words
4. Candy Girlfriend
5. Valient Brave
6. The Void
7. To June
8. 100 Years
9. Cryin’ Smoke
10. Modern African Queen
11. Try To Understand
12. Blood On The Sand (bonus track)
13. Make It Up (bonus track)

Review - Four Year Strong - Enemy Of The World

Four Year Strong - Enemy Of The World

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8 out of 10

In recent years, the crossover between hardcore and pop punk has become more and more intertwined with the likes of A Day To Remember and Set Your Goals having qualities of both genres in their sound. Worcester Massachusetts' own Four Year Strong are another such example of this hybrid of sounds. New album Enemy Of The World evokes memories of road trips and summers past with the sing-along choruses and a generally positive outlook projected. The energy of this record is pretty much equivalent of New Found Glory chugging a six-pack of Mountain Dew. Wasting Time (Eternal Summer) definitely screams out hit single with an extra tight rhythm driving the song along.

This has the right degree of bubblegum pop-punk sensibilities without being too sickly sweet like some of Four Year Strong's contemporaries. Enemy Of The World is a highly polished album, which comes as no surprise with the production credits taken by Machine (Lamb Of God, Every Time I Die) and the mixing done by Goldfinger frontman and music guru John Feldman.

This is a fun, upfront and honest album that is action-packed from start to finish.

Listen: www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong

Tracklist:
1. It Must Really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now
2. On A Saturday
3. Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)
4. Nineteen With Neck Tatz
5. Find My Way Back
6. What The Hell Is A Gigawatt
7. One Step At A Time
8. This Body Pays The Bill$
9. Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
10. Flannel is The Colour Of My Energy
11. Enemy Of The World

Review - Pack Of Wolves - A Nice Black Suit

Pack Of Wolves - A Nice Black Suit

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5 out of 10

I'm so confused by this record. It's opposite of a nice black suit, which goes with everything & is always appropriate, it veers wildly from sounding like JR Ewing or even Refused to something more akin to The Cribs.

I'm honestly struggling to describe them musically. Everything they do is pretty well done; it's just there are a lot of different things they are OK at.

It's all very well not being boring, but it's exhausting to listen to something so incoherent. If they stuck with brilliance of the first two tracks this album would be fruity hardcore perfection. Sadly this is not to be so.

I can hear the influences (From .Trail Of Dead to Beatsteaks) & it's a bold & brave move to combine indie & various subgenres of punk, but somehow this Austrian (which may give them a little language barrier leeway for being yet another 'Wolves' band) foursome don't quite pull it off, but the glimmers of greatness are enough to make me sad about that fact.

Listen: www.myspace.com/packofwolvesband

Tracklist:
1. On My Phone And Knees
2. You Like Dreams, We Love Nightmares
3. This Love Feels Like A Heart Attack
4. You Can’t Do It Anymore
5. The More We Sink The Less We Care Why
6. Has The World Changed Or Have I
7. What’s It Like To Be You
8. Soft Chemistry Could Be A Solution
9. Dial B For Bewildement
10. Untiltled
11. Get Well Soon

News - Social Distortion Signs To Epitaph Records

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Social Distortion have signed to Epitaph Records. The label plan to release the group’s first studio album since 2004 in the autumn.

"We feel that Epitaph has a natural understanding of Social Distortion; both the history of the band and the direction we want to go," says frontman Mike Ness. "Combine that with their successful track record and it felt like a good next step for us. We’ve always been open to new ideas and pushing the envelope, but we have also been very conscientious about the decisions we’ve made. We considered a lot of options, but in the end, Epitaph feels like the right home for us. We’re looking forward to taking this step forward, opening some new doors with this upcoming album and this next chapter of Social Distortion."

"My relationship with Mike goes way back to the beginnings of our careers in the LA music scene," adds Epitaph owner and president Brett Gurewitz. "Through the years Social Distortion have been a matchless voice in American rock and roll and I couldn’t be more thrilled to play a part in the next chapter for this great band."

News - The Sword Release Concept Album; Warp Riders

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The Sword will release their new album "Warp Riders" on the 23rd of August through Kemado Records. It is the band’s first concept album, an epic science-fiction narrative. The storyline is a psychedelic space opera that explores temporal themes of death and rebirth.

News - Are Little Fish Crazy?

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Little Fish will release their new single "Am I Crazy?" on the 14th of June through Custard/Island Records.

Live dates:

May 17th London Barfly
May 21st Liverpool, Sound City
May 28th Hay on Wye, How The Light Gets In Festival
June 19th North Devon, Gold Coast Ocean Festival
July 16th Cheltenham, The Trees Festival
July 15th Oxford, Truck Festival
July 31st Cornwall, Leopallooza Festival
Sep 26th Gloucester, Underground Festival

News - Porcupine Tree Live Film Premiere

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Porcupine Tree are premiering their new live film "Anesthetize" at London’s Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square this Thursday the 20th of May.

The screening will be introduced by the band and filmmaker. Members of the band will also be available to sign copies of the film, which is being released on Kscope as 2 disc set (DVD + Blu-Ray), following the screening.

A limited number of tickets for this special evening are available to purchase from the cinema (www.princecharlescinema.com / 0870 811 2559) for only £10 (plus 75p booking fee).

News - Lady Gaga - New Single "Alejandro"

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Lady Gaga will release new single "Alejandro" on the 28th of June on CD, 7" picture disc and as a digital bundle. A video was shot with noted fashion photographer Steven Klein earlier this month and the premiere will be announced shortly.

Live dates:

27 May Nottingham Arena*
28 May LG Arena, Birmingham
30 May O2 Arena, London
31 May O2 Arena, London
02 Jun MEN Arena, Manchester
03 Jun MEN Arena, Manchester
04 Jun Sheffield Arena*

* rescheduled show, original tickets still valid

Support on all dates comes from Semi Precious Weapons.

News - Chocolate Lab Records Signs Jon Lindsay

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Chocolate Lab Records have signed Jon Lindsay. The label will release Jon’s debut full-length album "Escape From Plaza-Midwood" on CD, vinyl and digital formats on the 17th of August.

Track Listing:

1. These Are The End Times
2. Indie Prince Paul
3. My Blue Angels
4. Futuretown
5. Number Every Summer
6. I Take Care of You Now
7. During the Beauty Shortage
8. Bring the Old You Back
9. Frequent Flyer
10. When Animals
11. The Launch Codes
12. Baby Ray
13. New English Magazines
14. Me and the Dog
15. Thinly Veiled References

News - Miley Cyrus Can Not Be Tamed

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Miley Cyrus is set to release her new album "Can’t Be Tamed" through Hollywood Records on the 21st of June. Miley will also play an exclusive UK show at G-A-Y in London on the 5th of June.

Sunday 16 May 2010

Review - Cancer Bats - Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones

Cancer Bats - Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones

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5 out of 10

From the land that gave us post-hardcore band Alexisonfire comes the metallic punk fury of Cancer Bats. Feel the testosterone seep through your body as you listen to this record. This is the Yorkie bar of albums; it drips with the sweat of man.

Bands like Alexisonfire and Gay For Johnny Depp at least allow scaled down and melodic aspects to their music to ease transitional or reluctant screamo fans into their genre. This is non-stop grinding anger with no pause for a breather and no time to dab your ears to check for a trickle of blood.

Liam Cormier's snarl is full of character, despite not being the best screamer out there. Unlike some similar bands, you can actually make out the lyrics of the songs. In the bands favour, the lyrics are a satisfying mixture of self-pity and Rage Against The Machine style defiance. Track one, Sleep This Away instantly throws you in at the deep end with guitars set to bludgeon and a vocalist seemingly blaming all his life's problems on you.

This album is all about attitude; that's punk attitude and not teenage girl 'I speak my mind' attitude. Lip pursingly badass palm-muted guitar leading to ringing chords, crashing cymbals and rolling snares and a red-faced singer with wrecked vocal chords; this has the whole package. Unfortunately with this package comes the apparently unavoidable clichés - midway through the album a song of the same name begins with the screaming of 'we are the undead'. I mean...come on.

The pace of the album keeps the punk aspect alive, it feels like some of the songs are being played in slow-motion which gives off this attitude and puts emphasis on details of the song, particularly the strong drumming.

Darkness Lives shows Tom Morello style pedal effects which is a pleasant break from the persistent and relentless distortion of the electric guitar. The album ends on a powerful cover of Beastie Boy's Sabotage with defined bass and headbanging satisfaction worthy of Rage's cover album Renegades.

This is a Download Festival niche band for those with a lifelong dedication to the Misfits logo. For those people, this band provides angry, nasty noise that's worth checking out. For me this sinks into the myriad of the defined neck-vein and blue in the face genre and provides nothing new. But if you're not in the mood for thoughtful lyricism and soft subtlety and just want to let it out, let Cancer Bats be of assistance.

Listen: www.myspace.com/cancerbats

Tracklist:
1. Sleep This Away
2. Trust No One
3. Dead Wrong
4. Doomed To Fail
5. Black Metal Bicycle
6. We Are The Undead
7. Scared To Death
8. Darkness Lives
9. Snake Mountain
10. Make Amends
11. Fake Gold
12. Drive This Stake
13. Raised Right
14. Sabotage

Review - Harold Nono + Hidekazu Wakabayashi - Harold Nono + Hidekazu Wakabayashi

Harold Nono + Hidekazu Wakabayashi - Harold Nono + Hidekazu Wakabayashi

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7 out of 10

If you were of a mind to dismiss this collaboration between Scotland and Japan, you would perhaps liken it to Boards of Canada being let loose in the Early Learning Centre. That would be your privilege and your loss, for it is more akin to the soundtrack of some underground wonder from Studio Ghibli or the latest Keita Takahashi percepticon. I'm sure odd sprites made of dust floated out of my speakers while I listened to the album - although I couldn't quite see them clearly. And upon the final windy fade-out of Wild Blue Yonder, I turned to see that all the objects in the room had been somehow rolled into a giant ball in the corner. Welcome, Misters Sunshine.

Listen: www.myspace.com/haroldnono, www.myspace.com/hidekazuwakabayashi

Tracklist:
1. Nobody Plays Baseball Here
2. Family
3. I Wanted To Go To The Party
4. Let's Go Find Mushrooms
5. I've Heard Giants
6. Teenage Desk
7. Ya Chaika
8. Akarui Akari
9. Scobies Roundie
10. A Shout Away
11. Wild Blue Yonder

Review - I Defy - I Defy

I Defy - I Defy

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6 out of 10

Not to be confused with their U.S. punk namesakes (although they probably agree on Wal-Mart and Death), I Defy forge insidious, spiky metal. Imagine a carving knife or a pair of scissors becoming conscious of its slavish existence. It would listen to this album before forcing its way out of the kitchen drawer and into your brain via your weeping eyeball. Sorry and all that, but that's just how it is. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people, that's just the way it is.

If it's any consolation, your mind will have been sliced by the sound of a sharpened Napalm Death whilst Cthulhu crawls out of your toilet to deliver the vocals. So, one for your next wedding reception or christening. Can I suggest Labyrinths for the happy couple's first dance, or Eveline's Curse for the godparents' boogie? No? The band are from Swindon. What do you mean you're 'scared' ?

Listen: www.myspace.com/idefyuk

Tracklist:
1. Intro (We Are The Light Of The World)
2. Wasted Year
3. Eveline's Curse
4. Hall of Mirrors
5. One Step Too Far
6. Awakening
7. Labyrinths
8. Red Mist
9. I Defy

Review - Party Horse - Lazer Beam (Single)

Party Horse - Lazer Beam (Single)

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6 out of 10

I love a bit of CSS, me, and this is exactly what Sheffield duo Party Horse are. This, their debut single, flies by like a rainbow inside the Large Hadron Collider - great to experience but you probably wouldn't want to get in its way. Not only that, it also manages to combine 1980s electro, laser noises and a robo-boogie rhythm without making me want to chew my own face off. Since CSS seem to have lost their way of late, the 'Horse may just jump in.

Listen: www.myspace.com/partyhorsemusic

Tracklist:
1. Lazer Beam

Review - Celeste - Morte(s) Nee(s)

Celeste - Morte(s) Nee(s)

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6 out of 10

Celeste mean business. 'Seven songs of pure hopelessness and despair', they say. We have been warned. And from the first, brain-shredding near-white noise riffs which open this musical void, we are rightly afraid. There's a break for (S), during which you may feel the need to go in search of your soul during its relatively calm intro. That's despite the sounds of what appears to be a woman being chased and caught by something not very nice, of course. I feel the album is more 'heavy going' than simply 'heavy', thanks to the over-reliance on ultra-high gain and the moments the vocalist sounds like Noddy Holder screaming-high on Angel Dust and being sick. Apart from that, it's not très bad.

Listen: www.myspace.com/unhiverdeplus

Tracklist:
1. Ces belles de rêve aux verres embués
2. Les mains brisées comme leurs souvenirs
3. Il y a biens des porcs que ça ferait bander de t'étouffer
4. En tropeau des louves en trompe l'oeil des agneaux
5. (S)
6. Un miroir pur qui te rend misérable
7. De sorte que plus jamais un instant ne soit magique

Friday 14 May 2010

News - Parkway Drive - Deep Blue

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Parkway Drive’s new album "Deep Blue" will be released on the 28th of June through Epitaph Records.

Track Listing:

1. Samsara
2. Unrest
3. Sleepwalker
4. Wreckage
5. Deadweight
6. Alone
7. Pressures
8. Deliver Me
9. Karma
10. Home Is For The Heartless
11. Hollow
12. Leviathan I
13. Set To Destroy

Thursday 13 May 2010

Review - Errors - The Flapper and Firkin, Birmingham - March 2010

Errors - The Flapper and Firkin, Birmingham - March 2010

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9 out of 10

I saw post electro rockers, Errors, in Birmingham just before they embarked on their recent European tour. Here's what I thought.

Following some last minute line up reshuffling, The Shogun's Decapitator kicked off the evening's proceedings with a truly mesmerising live performance. Emerging through intricate layers of progressive loops and instrumental math-rock brilliance comes solid, driving, dance-laden, rhythms to give this 4-piece a sound not dissimilar to the likes of Battles, Electric Electric and indeed headlining act, Errors. However, far from being constrained by their dancey math-rock moniker, The Shogun's Decapitator show a real versatility, depth of sound and guitar music purism (not a laptop or keyboard in sight) which many of their contemporaries do not achieve. In no time this unpretentious, beautifully crafted and superbly executed instrumental set gained a warm reception from the crowd. Even if they did seem unsure whether to dance or stroke their beards!

Unfortunately, a later than expected start and some technical problems saw support from Windscale cut short. A thin slice of promising, progressive, psychedelic, synth-laden, post rock certainly left the crowd wanting more. With the front man playing a collection of unusual instruments, including brightly coloured plastic keyboards and children's toys, taped to a trestle table, there was something of Birmingham's own Modified Toy Orchestra in there. Well. Modified Toy Orchestra on acid to be more precise and use a favourite among journalistic clichés!

It's been nearly two years since Birmingham first saw Errors play at Capsule's Supersonic festival. The blistering energy of those earlier live performances blew many away. However, this time, watching the band play material from their second full length release "Come Down With Me" on Rock Action Records, it was clear just how much the band had developed since 2008. In their new material and their performance of it, there is, of course, still some of the catchy, party-time hits feel of Radio 1 favourites such as "Salut France" and "Toes". However, the band seem to offer so much more now, taking opportunities to explore genre and textures of sound in a way which those epileptic dancing youths of 2 years ago would not have understood. Highlights included the motoric Krautrock drive of single, "A Rumour in Africa" and the blissful, dream pop soundscapes of "Bridge or Cloud?" Catch Errors performing this Summer at one of the scores of festivals they seem to be playing.

Listen: www.myspace.com/weareerrors, www.myspace.com/00windscale00 & www.myspace.com/theshogunsdecapitator

Tracklist:

Review - The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang (Single)

The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang (Single)

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9 out of 10

Last year belonged to The Gaslight Anthem. They went from being an indie punk who appeared on the Skate 2 soundtrack to having Bruce Springsteen on stage with them at Glastonbury and then all the awards and accolades that followed. One minute they were nobodies and the next, the saviours of modern punk. This single then, is kind of a big deal.

On first listen, I wasn't that impressed. It's good, and by any other band's standards it's great, but it sounds like an off cut from The '59 Sound. After a few more listens everything clicks and you're reminded of last summer when you wished The '59 Sound was just a few songs longer.

American Slang sneaks up on you. It's moody and dark, a mid-tempo stomp where Brian Fallon gets to do what he does best and soulfully growl his way through three and a half minutes of anthemic, slightly melodramatic, but brilliant rock and roll.

Listen: www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem

Tracklist:
1. American Slang

Review - The Band Of The Eye - Contagious Ignorance

The Band Of The Eye - Contagious Ignorance

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6 out of 10

Before I say anything about this album I have to point out that this band could have been called Full Intercourse and their album was to be titled Maximum Fisting. So I’m expecting great things from The Band of the Eye’s album Contagious Ignorance. This band has a sound that I would describe as early REM and early Therapy? having a grunge fight, another band I would compare them to are the Bloodhound Gang.

What let’s this band down is not their raw talent and it’s not a lack of vision. It's just a feeling that this album could have been a lot better, not to mention the production quality also leaves a lot to be desired. Saying that some tracks are definitely better than others, take single Why Are You So Awful it has the catchiest chorus I’ve heard in a long time ’sha la, la la, oh oh oh, we all worship satan’. But not all of the songs are catchy and much of the time the lyrics are indistinguishable and unmemorable, making this album poor for singalongability.

Another issue on a couple of the tracks is that the band really need to turn to the drummer and ask them if they think fills, that don’t really fit in well, will help the flow of the songs in any way. Other than this it’s a nice rock album and I think a band that should probably be seen live to be fully appreciated.

Listen: www.myspace.com/bandoftheeye

Tracklist:
1. Wasting
2. Dress-Down Day
3. Why Are You So Awful
4. Contagious Ignorance
5. Forgotten Man’s best Friend
6. Bye
7. On The Edge
8. Beatnik Acoustics
9. Lippy Children
10. This Skin I’m In
11. King Of The Dead

Review - Karhide - Acadia

Karhide - Acadia

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7 out of 10

Now here is what I believe advertisers of a certain aged brand of bird-related cider would call 'a refreshing change'. Heavy, melodic, guitar-based music without a bronchitic zombie screaming their lungs out over the top. Tim Waterfield, ex-man of electro-weighty punx Ann Arbor, has successfully performed alchemy with the choicest cuts of Black Sabbath and Mogwai, producing something other than else in its thunderous glory. Hugeness abounds in all tracks here, but let's single out the likes of Ride, for its jaunty punching of Ministry in the gonads and Jordan, which swings a damn sight more than its namesake's tits.

Not bad for a bloke and a laptop.

Listen: www.myspace.com/karhide

Tracklist:
1. Dirigo
2. Stooge
3. Jordan
4. Provider
5. Ride
6. Penobscot
7. Stab
8. Mt. Desert

News - Beatsteaks Are In Limbo

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Beatsteaks will release their new album ".Limbo Messiah" in the UK on the 12th of July. The band are going to be playing a sold out show at London’s ULU on the 5th of June.

News - The Lancashire Hotpots’ Tom McGrath Passes Away

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Submitted: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our beloved friend and colleague Tom McGrath aka Willie. The sudden death of a friend is never easy to comprehend, when it's someone who has profoundly affected your life since the minute you met him, then it hits you all the harder.

Our thoughts are understandably with his family at this incredibly difficult time. What has been some comfort is the sheer number of friends and colleagues we have met and spoken to today who are just as profoundly shocked and upset as we are. When that happens, I think you know you've done something right during your brief stay on this planet.

Right now, I can picture a scene outside the pearly gates with St Peter being played the theme tune to Bullseye and Postman Pat, and it makes me laugh and cry in equal measure.

Nothing else is pretty much in our thoughts at the moment, nor should it be.

If the man has ever made you laugh, have a drink (or ten) tonight and play some drum and bass at an unfeasibly loud volume, I think it's what he would have wanted.

Ant, Sheldon and Graeme
The Lancashire Hotpots"

News - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack

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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack will be released in the UK on the 7th of June. The first single from the album will be Muse’s "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)". Here is the track listing in full:

1. Eclipse (All Yours) by Metric
2. Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever) by Muse
3. Ours by The Bravery
4. Heavy In Your Arms by Florence + The Machine
5. My Love by Sia
6. Atlas performed by Fanfarlo
7. Chop And Change by The Black Keys
8. Rolling In On A Burning Tire by The Dead Weather
9. Let's Get Lost by Beck and Bat For Lashes
10. Jonathan Low by Vampire Weekend
11. With You In My Head (feat The Black Angels) by UNKLE
12. A Million Miles An Hour by Eastern Conference Champions
13. Life On Earth by Band of Horses
14. What Part Of Forever by Cee-Lo
15. Jacob's Theme by Howard Shore

Wednesday 12 May 2010

News - Andrew W.K. One Off London Show

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Andrew W.K. will be performing a very special solo show on Tuesday 25th May at Den and Centro. Support will come from The Smoking Hearts and Swound.

Andrew W K comments -

"I’m in a state of delirious excitement about my upcoming London show! My wonderful friends at Rock Sound Magazine have always partied hard with me, and now we’re teaming up for a night of celebration that we’ll never forget! It’s a very special chance for us to party together and to eat bananas and run around in circles. It is the sound of rock and the sound of fun! I will bring my keyboard, my microphones, my drum beats, and my head banging. This is not a concert. It is a party. And I consider it a privilege to party with you. The last two London solo shows I did were off the hook, but this one will be WAY off the hook, and off the chain, off the cuff, and we’ll all go off our rockers! The fans and friends I have in the UK mean a lot to me. We’re constructing this dream together. I really love you! It really is true! And I love Rock Sound, London and most of all, I love music. PARTY HARD!"

Rock Sound comment -

'Rock Sound is proud, excited, chuffed, stoked and generally ecstatic to present a one-off Andrew WK solo show in London this month!

This exclusive show, hosted in association with Big Machine Media, will see Mr W.K. bring the party for an intimate audience (275 capacity!) at the Den & Centro venue in London on May 25.

At the gig Andrew will also be taking time to meet and greet fans, so come hang out!

Keep checking back for www.rocksound.tv for more info!'

Tickets are priced £9.50 (plus booking fee) and are on sale here - http://www.stargreen.com/find?Q=ANDREW

News - Camilla Kerslake Is Recording Album No. 2

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Camilla Kerslake who is the first signing to Gary Barlow’s Future Records is currently in the studio recording her second album, which is due for release this autumn.

News - Anathema - We’re Here Because We’re Here

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Anathema will be releasing a new album called "We’re Here Because We’re Here" on the 14th of June through Kscope Records. The group will also be playing a London headline show at the Islington Academy on the 21st of May.

News - We Are The In Crowd Release New Song

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We Are The In Crowd have put up their new track "Both Sides of the Story" for free download via this link: http://hopelessrecords.createsend3.com/t/r/i/bukdlj/l/d

The track is taken from their forthcoming EP "Guaranteed to Disagree" which will be released on the 8th of June through Hopeless Records.

News - Cuba Cuba Join Walnut Tree Records

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Cuba Cuba have signed to Walnut Tree Records and will release their new single "Home Is The Fire" on the 31st of May. The four track release is available to pre-order now at www.walnuttreerecords.co.uk

News - The Get Up Kids - Remix A Track!

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Submitted: "The Get Up Kids are giving you the chance to re-mix their brand new track, Keith Case, from their forthcoming EP 'Simple Science'.

The winning remix will be featured on the Get Up Kids Myspace-Player and webpage and will be considered for release. A must for any TGUK fan!

All you need to do is go to http://www.tracksandfields.com/requests.php?request_id=143 and download the stems or use the websites own sequencer to let yourself go wild with the track.

The Get Up Kids release their brand new EP, and first new material in over six years, 'Simple Science' on May 17th on Hassle records.

The band will be heading over to the UK for handful of headline shows in June

23rd-UK London, Underworld
24th-UK London, Underworld
25th-UK Birmingham Academy 2
26th-IRE Dublin Academy 2
27th-UK Belfast Black Box
28th-UK Glasgow Cathouse
29th-UK Leeds Cockpit"

News - Tiger Please Summer Tour Dates

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Tiger Please have announced a string of tour dates for the summer:

26th May - The Barfly Cardiff with People In Planes
27th May - New Slang Kingston London with Fun., The XCerts, Luke Leighfield & Crazy Arm

13th June - Download Festival (Opening the Red Bull Stage)

18th June - The Blues Loft High Wycombe with Broadcast & Francesqa
19th June - 02 Academy 2 Bristol with Broadcast & Francesqa
20th June - 02 Academy 3 Birmingham with Francesqa
22nd June - King Tuts Glasgow with Francesqa
23rd June - The Masque Liverpool with Francesqa
24th June - 02 Academy Newcastle with Francesqa
25th June - 02 Academy 2 Sheffield with Broadcast & Francesqa
27th June - The Camden Barfly London with Francesqa
28th June - University of Hertfordshire Hatfield with Broadcast & Francesqa
29th June - 02 Academy 2 Oxford with Broadcast & Francesqa
30th June - Club Ifor Bach Cardiff with Broadcast & Francesqa

1st July - Red Rooms (Rescue Rooms) Nottingham with Francesqa
14th July - The White Rabbit Plymouth with Eaststrikewest
15th July - The Camden Barfly London with Eaststrikewest
16th July - The Empire Arbetillery with Eaststrikewest
19th July - The Forum Sheffield with Eaststrikewest
20th July - The Capitol Glasgow with Eaststrikewest
21st July - Moho Manchester with Eaststrikewest
22nd July - The Well Leeds with Eaststrikewest

News - Jaguar Love Remix Competition

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Here are some details of a new Jaguar Love remix competition you may well be interested in:

"Jaguar Love "Polaroids and Red Wine" Remix Competition
www.tracksandfields.com/requests.php?request_id=147

Contest Rules:

1. You can either download stems and remix using your own software or work online with the Tracks & Fields sequencer....the choice is yours! And don’t forget you can form discussion groups with your fellow remixers to share inspiration, tech talk or anything else!

2. Publish your remix at Tracks & Fields. You are not allowed to publish/post your remix or the stems from this contest on any other site - you may only use Tracks & Fields widgets for this purpose. Any user found to be doing so will be disqualified from this contest.

3. Do not infringe anyone’s copyright: only use your own or royalty free/creative commons licensed material! Fat Possum / Jaguar Love remain the sole copyright owner of the song ’Polaroids and Red Wine’ and all audio stems from this contest.

4. Jaguar Love/Fat Possum will choose the best remix - the entrant with the most votes will not necessarily win this contest.
Prize:

CONSIDERATION FOR DIGITAL RELEASE!"

News - Groove Armada - Announce UK Tour

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Groove Armada are set to tour the UK this October.

October
Thu 7th LEEDS, O2 ACADEMY - 0844 477 2000
Fri 8th GLASGOW, O2 ACADEMY - 0844 4772000
Sat 9th MANCHESTER, ACADEMY - 0161 832 1111
Mon 11th NORWICH, UEA - 01603 508050
Tue 12th BRISTOL, O2 ACADEMY - 0844 477 2000
Thu 14th BIRMINGHAM, O2 ACADEMY - 0844 477 2000
Fri 15th LONDON, O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON (7pm-11pm) - 0844 477 2000
Sat 16th LONDON, O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON (9pm-3am) - 0844 477 2000

News - Angelus Apatrida Are Running Like Clockwork

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Spanish thrash metal band Angelus Apatrida will release their new album titled "Clockwork" through Century Media on the 21st of June.

News - Emarosa Sell Out London Shows

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Emarosa will be setting foot on UK shores on the 18th of May for a headline tour. With both London shows and the Manchester date selling out in a matter of days as well as Birmingham being upgraded from Academy 3 to Academy 2 tickets are shifting fast!

EMAROSA UK TOUR MAY 2010

18.05 Joiners, Southampton
19.05 Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
20.05 Academy 2, Birmingham (Upgraded from Academy 3, only a few tickets remaining)
21.05 Back Room at the Met, Leeds
22.05 Roadhouse, Manchester (SOLD OUT)
23.05 Cathouse, Glasgow
24.05 Academy 2, Newcastle
25.05 Barfly, London (SOLD OUT)
26.05 Barfly, London (SOLD OUT)

Doors 8pm except Manchester doors at 6pm. Tickets £7 except London £8.

News - Introducing...The Screening

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The Screening will release their new single "Diem" on the 5th of July as a limited edition 7" vinyl and digital download.

Live dates:

Mon 31st May - Kasbah, Coventry
Fri 11th June - Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham
Sat 12th June - The Music Cafe, Leicester
Thurs 24th June - Club Fandango at The Monarch London
Sat 3rd July - Main Stage at Sunstock Festival

News - I Am Kloot Trio Of Live Dates

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I Am Kloot are to set to play a series of exclusive gigs this summer, including a show at London's Bush Hall on the 15th of June.

The London, Leeds and Manchester shows will follow the June 1st release of "Northern Skies", the first single from the band’s forthcoming fifth studio album "Sky At Night".

June
Wed 9th LEEDS, BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB
Tue 15th LONDON, BUSH HALL
Wed 16th MANCHESTER, ACADEMY 3